Soft Breeders' Cup turf 'a big fear' for Oscar Performance

Following a series of heavy showers, Amerman Racing’s Oscar Performance on Thursday put in his first work in Kentucky ahead of the Breeders’ Cup Mile over Keeneland's turf course. The 4-year-old son of Kitten’s Joy was last seen winning the Woodbine Mile on Sept. 15 and has continued a steady training schedule since then.

Trainer Brian Lynch said Oscar Performance has been in good shape since his recent work – four furlongs in 52.20 seconds – but the condition of the ground is a concern.

“The turf is a little soft. We know he doesn’t like that, so that’s probably going to be a big fear in Kentucky this time of year,” Lynch said. “My biggest fear going into Breeders’ Cup is that we continue to get rain and we get a soft turf course.”

Oscar Performance won an automatic berth into the Nov. 3 Breeders’ Cup Mile with his win at Woodbine. The victory followed his Arlington Million effort in which jockey Jose Ortiz pulled the horse up in the stretch after a bad step. Oscar Performance vetted fine before return to training.

“That’s always a very prestigious race – the Woodbine Mile,” Lynch said. “It was nice to see him come back. He’s won a Grade 1 as a 2-year-old, 3-year-old and 4-year-old. He goes to the breeding shed next year so he’s got a nice resume.”

Mill Ridge Farm will stand Oscar Performance for the 2019 season. The colt announced himself as a top turf contender at 2 when he won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf and scored back-to-back Grade 1 wins at 3 in the Belmont Derby Invitational and the Secretariat Stakes. 

The Belmont Derby, Secretariat and Arlington Million are all 1 ¼ miles. Oscar Performance stretched out to 1 ½ miles in last year’s Joe Hirsch Turf Classic and Breeders’ Cup Turf, finishing third and ninth, respectively, against older horses. 

Prior to the Arlington Million, Oscar Performance made a winning seasonal bow in the one-mile Poker Stakes. Although he wonlonger distances, he cut back at Woodbine and will stick with that distance for Breeders’ Cup at Churchill Downs.

“We just felt, looking at his form,” Lynch said, “that’s probably his best distance.”